Each week, CasinoBeats breaks down the numbers behind some of the industry’s most interesting stories. Today we take a look at an Australian casino cancellation, projected land-based and online growth and ‘counterproductive’ Spanish proposals.
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The European Gaming and Betting Association has warned that proposed advertising restrictions in Spain could lead to huge uptick in unregulated activity, as well as having a detrimental effect on the country’s football clubs.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs proposals would see advertising for online gambling only permitted between 1am-5am, with no exceptions for sports events, a total ban on gambling sponsorship of sports jerseys, kits and stadiums, and a ban on welcome bonuses.
The country’s state-involved lotteries, which account for 65 per cent of the gambling market revenue, will be excepted from the main elements.
The proposals are expected to be finalised by the government in Autumn this year, with a three month implementation period foreseen for gambling companies to adapt to the rule changes.
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The Queensland state government has announced that plans to develop a second casino on the Gold Coast have been axed due to ‘global market conditions’.
Confirmed by state development minister Kate Jones, the Palaszczuk Government has concluded exclusive negotiations with the Star Entertainment Group by mutual agreement.
Jones highlighted that the end of exclusive negotiations, along with the cessation of the Global Tourism Hub market process, would enable The Star to focus on advancing with its multi-billion-dollar investments in South East Queensland.
She said: “Through the exclusive negotiation process for a Gold Coast Global Tourism Hub we worked really hard to extract value from The Star, but the deal on the table did not stack up for taxpayers.
“We were not able to reach consensus around the terms for long-term casino licence exclusivity.
“Global market conditions are clearly impacting investment at present and I can confirm that this government has no intention of reviving the market process for a new integrated resort – including a second casino – on the Gold Coast.”
25
Overall growth in the casino industry has been ‘generally steady’ and ‘consistent’ according to new research published by Catena Media, with the market predicted to grow by approximately 25 per cent in the next year.
The analysis looks at the trends in the casino industry, with a primary focus on the land-based market in the years leading up to 2020. It has shown that the gross gaming yield has risen from $50bn to $130bn in 18 years from 2001 to 2019.
Noting why the group decided to embark on this research, Joevrem Curmi, Catena Media SEO product specialist, said: “We wanted to take a deep dive into the entire casino industry to look back at how all elements of the sector have grown and changed over the past 20 years, as well as how the landscape might evolve in years to come.
“The results are fascinating and although the world is facing some serious challenges at the moment, the outlook is positive for both land-based and online casinos as we progress towards the middle of the 21st century.”
The research examined the amount of time spent gambling which, according to Catena, ‘varied’ along with the percentage of time spent on each type of casino game.
172,000
Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group, the hospitality and entertainment arm of Australian retail giant Woolworths, has been penalised by New South Wales regulators for “plying pokie gamblers with alcohol”.
Issued by the New South Wales Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority, ALH has been ordered to pay more than $172,000 after two of its hotels on the region’s north coast were banned from operating the electronic gaming machines for two weeks for illegally providing free alcohol to gamblers.
With more than 300 licensed venues, Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group is 75 per cent owned by Woolworths and is the third biggest poker machine operator in Australia.
ILGA inspected more than 50 ALH venues across NSW and formally investigated four, finding that Westower Tavern in Ballina and South Tweed Tavern had systemically supplied gaming patrons with free alcohol.
As part of the penalty, licensees of the two north coast venues were fined a total of $3,500 while an ALH manager was banned from the industry in NSW for five years. Under NSW gaming laws, it is illegal to offer or supply free or discounted alcohol to induce gambling.
